D R A F T

Climate Change Strategies for
South-Eastern Australia

Prepared by Edwina Richardson (AAILA) December 2006

Introduction
The AILA, along with the professional organisations representing
Architects, Engineers and Planners, is currently taking part in an
enquiry into how climate change adaptation is being incorporated into
tertiary education and CPD (Continuing Professional Development).  This
project is funded through ARIES (Australian Research Institute in
Education for Sustainability), Macquarie University, which in turn has
received funding from the Department of Environment and Heritage.
ARIES has provided AILA with funding to attend workshops, conduct
an enquiry and prepare a report due in early 2007.

Context
Climate change is now a generally accepted fact with predictions that
temperatures may increase by 1.4°C to 5.8°C by 2100 (from levels
measured in 1990) if greenhouse emissions are not controlled.  Burning
of fossil fuels contributes the major form of carbon dioxide (the major
greenhouse gas) entering the atmosphere, whilst vegetation clearing,
reduced soil humus and erosion of topsoil also add to carbon loads.

While impacts will be varied around Australia some broad predictions for
southern Australia include an increase in drought, severe storm events,
an increase in the number of days with extreme temperatures, and more
bushfires;  whilst northern Australia is likely to experience more intense rainfall
and flooding events and Australia’s alpine areas are expected to have
reduced snow cover.  These changes will have a range of flow on effects
for ecosystems and human settlements depending on their degree of
vulnerability.

Source: Department of the Environment and Heritage Australian Greenhouse
Office (2005) Climate change science - questions answered.

In order to address some of the challenge of climate change, Landscape
Architects should begin canvassing a range of adaptation methods
specific to regional areas.  Strategies responding to climate change
fall into two types: adaptation strategies which respond to the impacts of
climate change and prepare for changes to limit their impact on ecosystems
and human settlements (e.g. planting more resilient species to cope with
higher extreme temperatures and less water); and mitigation strategies
which aim to reduce or offset the amount of gases released into the
atmosphere. Example of mitigation strategies include using alternative
fuel technologies or using natural or technical systems which trap carbon,
for example within plant material.

The next generation of landscape architects will play an important role in
preparing our communities for climate change and ensuring sustainable
solutions.  Building their knowledge and skills, and building capacity to turn
this knowledge into action, will become a more important element of their
professional education.

ADAPTATION STRATEGIES

TREES

• In the south-eastern states Landscape Architects need to develop lists of
  regionally specific plant species which can cope with increased
  temperatures and low water needs for use in public and private spaces.
• Wholesale tree growers will also need to commence trialling tree species
  which can deal with hotter and drier temperatures.

[In the ACT temperature rises will adversely affect a number of different
eucalypt species.  The following species which occur locally in sclerophyll forest
such as Eucalyptus rossii (Scribbly Gum), E. bridgesiana (Apple Box),
E.  mannifera (Brittle Gum) as well as E. blakelyi (Red Gum) from savannah
woodland will cope poorly with increased temperatures.  With rapid change,
ecosystems have a limited ability to adapt and will be subject to increased
stress from pests and diseases.  (Lawrence 2006)]

PUBLIC OPEN SPACE

• Water harvesting
• Separation of trees from grassed areas & trees mulched to reduce water
  losses
• It is predicted there will be a loss in Canberra of exotic species like
  Quercus (Oaks), Fraxinus (Ash),  and Ulmus (Elms).  Hardy species like
  Platanus x acerifolia (London Plane) may survive (Lawrence 2006)
• Reduce grass expanses

STREETSCAPES

• Reduction of irrigated grass to verge (alternatives are low herbaceous
  local native plants and/or groundcovers) and incorporation of swales to
  harvest water
• Replacement of failing trees in streetscapes due to inability to cope with
  drought
• Incorporation of drought tolerant trees in verges (Lawrence 2006)

WINDBREAKS

• Incorporate windbreaks into planning for new sub-division layouts and add
  windbreaks to public open space within existing public open space. 
  Windbreaks will reduce drying out and loss of soils and make spaces more
  comfortable for people to live in.

RESIDENTIAL RESPONSES

• Increased use of shade trees in gardens to reduce evapotranspiration
  in garden and help cool homes (Richardson 2006)
• Increased use of well designed courtyards or 'mini-oases' to act as passive
  cooling (Richardson 2006)
• Incorporation of wind breaks in gardens to reduce evapotranspiration
  of gardens (Richardson 2006) and soil loss

WATER STORAGE/AMENITY

• Reduce shape of water storage bodies from lakes/dams with high surface
  area, need to design water bodies which can reduce evaporation losses.
  Return to chain-of-ponds system (Lawrence 2006) which existed prior to
  urbanisation. 

SOILS

• Protection of soils and humus from erosion (DEH 2005) through vegetation

PERMEABLE LANDSCAPES

• Increase permeability of low lying areas to cope with flooding (DEH 2005)

LANDSCAPE CONNECTIVITY

• Provide wildlife corridors for vulnerable species to extend habitat range

COASTAL LANDSCAPES

• Protection of dune systems and communities from rising sea levels

MITIGATION STRATEGIES

Mitigation strategies aim to reduce the amount of carbon generated into the
atmosphere or offsets carbon levels.  The Kyoto Protocol is an example of a
mitigation strategy.

PROTECTION OF EXISTING VEGETATION

• Protect existing remnant and planted vegetation from clearing (DEH 2005)

PUBLIC FORESTS

• Plant more forests of mixed species (to spread risk) to act as carbon sinks in
  public open space and combine with recreation facilities

LANDSCAPE MATERIALS

• Use Landscape Materials with low embodied energy.  Emphasis on recycled
  materials and materials which can be reused (Richardson 2006) 
• Reduce contributions to landfills (a big generator of methane one of the
  gases which contributes to global warming) by carefully specifying amounts
  of materials to reduce waste

LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE

• Reduce reliance on landscape maintenance using fossil fuel driven
  machinery (Richardson 2006)

FOOD GROWING

• Incorporate communal food growing precincts and community farms within
  public open space in urban areas to reduce costs of food delivery

REFERENCES

Department of Environment & Heritage – Australian Greenhouse Office (2005)
Climate Change Science Questions Answered  Australian Greenhouse Office:
Canberra.

Lawrence, Ian (2006) Unpublished paper presented at Water Industry Expo,
Australian National Botanic Gardens, 26.10.06

Richardson, Edwina (2006) Unpublished power point presentation, ‘Creating
more sustainable garden seminars’, University of Canberra, 2006